Integrating and recording apparatus for meters.



F. N. CONNET. I INTEGRATING AND RBUORDING APPARATUS FOR METERS. APPLIOATION IILBD JUNE 5,1907.

6.31035! 1 (Mw W 6 W444,

IRON FOUNDRY, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

INTEGRATING AND RECORDING APPARATUS FOR METERSa Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5, 1907. Serial No. 377,476.

will aulomatical y give the sum and total, in galltms, cubic teet, or'other convenient unit, of me sure of the quantity of liquids or gases passing through a given aperture, and at the same time record the variation of t he flow so that the quantity that has passed through during any period may be readily ascertained.

The apparatus is particularly adapted to register the flow through a pipe or tube similar in construction to that commonly imown as the Venturi tube described in the United States Patent No. 281,373, dated :i pril I7, 1888, and the registering and recorilling devices are arranged to be actuated by an electric motor, or other power generating means which is controlled inits action indirectly by the difference between the pressures at two points in said tube.

in carrying out my invention two recepmcl 1 are employed the same being connected together and arranged to contain a body of liquid (usually mercury) of groater speciiic gravity than the liquid to be measured,

both. otsaid receptacles being supported u 'mn a scale beam and the contents 1n each i,

is caused to vary in weight as more or less oi the hmvyliquid is forced from one to the other, the quantity being proportional to the velocity through the tube. The varying weight of the different receptacles is ci'uupcnsaicd for by a proportional movement i the counterlmlance on the scale beam. i

When one receptacle is heavier than the other the beam is tipped and caused to form an electric connection whereby a molm' is energized to actuate the registering and recording devices an amount in proportion to the period of contact, the period being pro longed until the motor shall have .moved the weight on the beam a distance necessary to perfectly balance the weight in the receptacle, whereby the beam will be moved to break the circuit and prevent a further operation of the motor until a connection is made again by a changeof weight, in the receptacles.

it is found in practice that the life of flexible connections, such as rubber tubes and the like, is very short when subjected to the action of mercury, and this dithculty has been overcome in my present construction by placing the flexible connections above the receptacle where they serve to conduct the water and are not brought into contact with the mercury.

The invention is fully set forth in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1' is a diagrammatic 'view .illustratin a simple construction which embodies the idealures of my present iuvention. Fig. 2- is a top or plan view showing the compensating cam and its connection to the integrating and recording devices. Fig. 3 is a small detail showing a simple form of I'YIt'OlHIHlSIIl whereby the con'ipleting of an electric circuit will actuate the integrating device to register the flow through the sup ply pipe.

Referring to the drawings 1 is a scale beam balanced or pivoted at 2,011 the knife edge, which rests on the support 3. The vessels 4i and 5 are supported at either end of the scale beam, the inner 'side of the bot,- tom of vessel 5 being on a line with the inner side of the top of vessel 4 when the beam is in its normal or level position, the

-vertical positions of these vessels being changed temporarily by a change in the ve locity of the flow lhrough the tubes whereby a portion of the contents of one vessel is forced into the other..

My device may be connected to the main Patented Apr. 15, 1913.:

supply pipe and operated by the flow through the same, said )ipc being provided with a contracted or necl: portion 6, the flow being through the same in the direction of the arrow. The vessel 4- is connected through its top to the lip-stream side of the main supply through the small pipe 7 and the short section of flexible tubing 8, while the vessel 5 on the opposite end of the scale beam is connected at its upper end to the contracted portion 6 in the main supply throughthe pipe 9 and the short section of flexible tubing 10. These two vessels are connected together through their lower-ends by means of the pipe 11.

At 12"is a weight whic'h'is suspended by the rod 13 from the wheel 14:, said wheel being adapted to be rolled along the track 15 onsaid scale'beam, to counterbalance-the change in weight of the contents trom one vessel .to the other. In order to move' 'this counterweight automatically along thebeam I have 'provided'an electric motor 16 which is arranged to actuate the drum 17, around whichfis wound the cord 18. This .cord'is led over the ulleys 19, 20 and 21 and connected'to said wheel 14 and then continued around over the pulle s 22, 23 and 24: back to the said drum 17 -w ereby a movement of said drum in either direction moves. the weight a proportional distance along the scale beam. A contact finger 25 is arranged oh the scale beam-so that when one end of the beam is down said finger makes aconnection to the terminal 26 to complete the circuit, to said motor, causing it to run' in one direction so longas this contact. contmues. When this end of the beam 1s raised a sufficient distance a connection 1s made through'the terminal 27 whereby the motor is caused to run in the opposite. di-

rection', and when the beam is perfectly balanced the contact finger stands int-he center I between the terminals and the action of the motor ceases."

Themechanism above described is caused to move in proportion to the rate of flow through thema1n supply, and means have 'been' provided to accurately indicate and cam. Mounted on this bar is the recording pen 35 which is moved longitudinally along the face of the record sheet 36.

record the rate and quantity, which means are operated as follows :The rotation of the motor 16 is transmitted to the ca-m'28 through the gears 29 and 30, short shaft 31' and gears 32 and 33, and through this cam a reciprocating motion is given to the bar 3 1 through the lever 35 on which lever is fixed the contact "in 36 which engages said 7 I This record sheet is mounted on a 'drum'and is adapted to be continuously rotated by means of the clock mechanism (notshown), in theca'sing 37. The horizontal lines on the face of this:

chart denote thez-twcnt'y-tour hours of the day, while the circumferential lines represent gallons or any other convenient unit of measure whereby the amountfof flow passing through the pipe is continuously recorded by the tracing of the pen, sothat thequantity, whet-her constant or varying, thathas passed through at any period gIIiay be readily ascertained. Also mounted on this reciprocating bar 34 is a contact wheel 38, which wheel is adapted to be moved laterally over the face of the disk 39 to'wardl and from the center of the same. This diskt39 is caused to be continuously rotated tby means ofthe clock mechanism (not show in the casing 10'. Mounted to rotate wi h this wheel 38 is a contat pin 41 which i 5 adaptedto make a connection with the ter minal 42 at each revolution of thewheeltol complete the connection through the wires 4-3 and 44 to the magnet 45, shown in Fig.

the magnet will be energized to draw the pawl '46 downward and rotate the ratchet.

wheel 47 one tooth at a time, whereby the train of gearing, not shown, will be actuated to operate the register 5:8. The pivotedfend of this pawl 16 is slottedas at 46* so as to-g have a slight endwise motion on pin 47* and is prcssed forward by spring 48 so as to engage the next adjacent toot-h after completing a downward stroke. Q

In the ordinary construction of apparatus of thischaracter flexible tubes, either rubber, brass,'copper, or the like, have been employed to conduct the mercury from one chamber to the other; One disadvantage of this construction is that the mercury coming in contact with this flexible tubing at.-

tacks and soon destroys the same, causing the annoyance of being obliged to'replace the connections frequently. An essential feature of my improved apparatus is the fbalancing' of both of these vessels on a scale of the sameand are used only for conducting the water thereto, thus effectually re- 8G 3, whereby at each revolution of this wheel h moving said connections from the (letcl'iorating action of the mercury.

The operation of the apparatus may be more fully described as follows: The'vessels 4 and 5 jointly contain a body of fluid,(p-ref- ,erably mercury), of,, greater specificgravity than the fluid to be measured. When there is no flow through the main the pressure at all points inthe pipe is of course equal and the mercury, seeking its ownlevel passe macaw into the receptacle 4 filliug' tlicsamc even with the bottom of the receptacle 5, the counter-weight being drawn to the opposite and ot the beam to balance the weight of fluid in the first receptacle. As soon as the flow through the main begins the pressure at the throat 6 is decreased and becomes less than that at a point above said throat where the pipe T is connected, therefore a portion of the mercury corresponding: to the differ ence in the pressures at these two points, is forced from. vessel ti; out through the pipe 11 into the vessel 5. The heavy fluid being transferred from one end of the scale beam to the other naturally carries downward the heavy end causing the finger 25 to contact with the terminal 26 and complete the ciccuit to energize the motor and cause th'e weight 12 to move alongtbe scale beam and balance the weight of the fluid in the vessel 5. The operation of the motor at the same time moves the recording pen over the face of the record sheet to indicate the rate oi flow and also carries the contact wheel out ward from the center of its driving dish causing the integrating mechanism to ope crate. As soon as the flow decreases a reverse action takes place, a portion of the mercury is forced baclt from the vessel 5 into the vessel 4:, the scale beam or: the right end rising making a contact with finger 27 causing a reverse action of themotor to movethe counterweight to the right to balance the weight in the opposite vessel and return the scale beam to its central or normal position.

This device is very practicai In its operation and by its use an accurate reading of the rate of flow and the qiiantity that has passed through the tube may be readily ob- 'tained.

Having thus lllQSCI'il'lEtl my inventionnvhat I claim as new and desire to secure by- Let ters Patent, is: e a

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conductor pipe, a scale beam, two vessels containing liquid of greater specific gravity than the fluid to be measured, the same being sup iorted by said beam one on either side of its alancing point, a connection between said vessels, means whereby a change in the flow through said conductor will automatically change the relative eights of the contents of said vessels, a counterweight on said beam, means whereby said counterweight is automatically moved along said beam to accurately compensate for any such change in the relative weights of the contents of said vessels, an integrating mechanism and means whereby said mechanism is opei'ated at a speed in: proportion to the distance of'said counterbalancefrom its zero or starting position; a

2'. Infan apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conductor pipe, a scale beam, two vessels containing liquid of greater specific gravity than that to be measured the same being supported by said beam one on either side of its pivoting point, a connection between said vessels,

means whereby a change in the flow through said pipe will automatically change the role;-

live weights of the contents of said vessels, a

ctunderweight on said beam, a motor controlled by the position of said beam whereby said weight is caused to be moved along said beam to automatically compensate for anysuch cha age in the relative weights of the contents oi said vessels, and an integrating mechanism controlled by the action of said ii'iotor.

3. in an. apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conductor pipe a scale beam, two vessels supported on sai beam one on each side of its balancing point,

a connection between said vessels, said vessels jointly containing a body of liquid of greater specific gravity than that ofwthe lluid l o be measured, means 'Whe'reby the dilt'emntial pressure in said pipe of the fluid to be measured causes a proportionalflow of said heavy liquid from one vessel to the other, means: for automatically compensating for any change in the relative weights of the contents of said vessels, an integrating meehanisnnand means whereby said counterbalancing means is caused to operate said integrating mechanism in oroportion to the quantity of liquid forced from one vessel to the other.

t. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conductor pipe,

a scale beam, two vessels supported on said beam one on each side of its balancing point,

a connection between said vessels, said vessels jointly containing a body of liquid of greater specific: gravity than that of the fluid to be iiieasux'ed, means whereby differ:

ential pressure in said pipe of the fluid to be measured causes a proportional flow of said. heavy liquid rom one vessel to the other, a counterbalance on said beam, 0.

motor controlled in its action by the position of said beam, means whereby said'counterbalance moved by said motor to compensate for the changing in thdrelative weights of the contents of said vessels, and cam actuated means controlled by the longitudimil movement of said weight for indicating the rate of flow through said pipe.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conductor pipe,

in scale beam, two vessels supported on said beam one on each side of its balancing'point,

a connection between said vessels, said vesselsjointly containing a body of liquid of V greater specific gravity than that of the fluid to be mcasured mcans whereby the difiercntialpressurein said pipe of the fiuid to be measured causes ap goportional flow o said heavy liquid from one vessel to the other, a flexible tube connected to the upper portion of each vessel-for conducting only the fluid to be measured, a motor, inotor actuated means for automatically compensating for any change in the relative Weights of the contents of the vessels, an integrating mechanism, and a cam moved by the action of said motor whereby said integrating mechanism may be controlled. In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. t

- FREDERICK N. CONNET.

Witnesses: 7

CHARLES G. *Rrounnnson,

HOWARD E. BARLOW. 

